True Nightmare California Smog Story

[miklos]

S13 KA24E engine A TALE OF MADNESS IN CALIFORNIA


I went to test only--passed visual--failed High Nox-paid $38

Applied to CAP--got letter for $500 of repairs

Went to Gold Shield station--left it for 2 days

Failed visual at Gold Shield--wanted to remove all my gauges / reroute all vacuum lines / remove Air Fuel gauge wire from the Oxygen Sensor...I picked up the Car and the shop kept my CAP letter.

I took the car to my mechanic and replaced 2 leaking injectors, the MAF, spark plug wires, EGR solenoid, and cleaned out the EGR passages inside the manifold. CEL turned off and car ran perfectly.

Note- I had replaced the IACV and the Oxygen sensor and the PCV valve months earlier. CAT is 2 years old.

The original Smog Test Only shop which would do a retest for $11 had been closed for 2 or more weeks--so I went and paid $38 to another Smog Test Only shop.

I passed the visual inspection even though the Gold Shield shop had written that I tampered with 8 things and they said my "Timing" was off because my idle was off. No Timing degree numbers were listed in the Smog paperwork. Paid $20

DMV refused to give me temporary operating permit [TOP] without the original CAP letter.

Called CAP--they told me to pickup the letter at the shop. CAP put me back into their program because the 3rd smog test had passed my car on visual inspection.

Returned to DMV with CAP letter and got a 60 day TOP [temporary operating permit] DMV wanted $50 for it if not in the CAP program

I called BAR and they sent out an inspector directly to me to photography my engine. BAR has reviewed the photos and

said I should take it to a BAR referee. The inspector said to tell the next Gold Shield shop to call him personally.

I went to a new Gold Shield shop on Nov. 13...it was a friday. The Master smog tech there said I tampered with the Oxygen Sensor and didn't like my silicone vacuum hoses. He said that his shop won't work on my car and told me to go to the BAR referee. He refused to call the BAR Inspector. He said he wanted to work fast and not spend the day inspecting my car in order to repair it.

My 3rd failed smog test I had High Nox and the CO was a little high only at 15mph.
The car runs better than new. But the emissions are over the limit.

The Gold Shield shop told me on Friday the 13th, that California now requires an OBD2 Cat on all cars even though I have an OBD1 and it will cost $300.

Is this true?

The next step is I am seeing a BAR referee for a complimentary visual inspection.

I will update this next week.

[Ceepo]

sounds like a load of shit, i dont live in california and i dont have to deal with emissions but this is retarded fuck cali...

[drift freaq]

S13 KA24E engine A TALE OF MADNESS IN CALIFORNIA


I went to test only--passed visual--failed High Nox-paid $38

Applied to CAP--got letter for $500 of repairs

Went to Gold Shield station--left it for 2 days

Failed visual at Gold Shield--wanted to remove all my gauges / reroute all vacuum lines / remove Air Fuel gauge wire from the Oxygen Sensor...I picked up the Car and the shop kept my CAP letter.

I took the car to my mechanic and replaced 2 leaking injectors, the MAF, spark plug wires, EGR solenoid, and cleaned out the EGR passages inside the manifold. CEL turned off and car ran perfectly.

Note- I had replaced the IACV and the Oxygen sensor and the PCV valve months earlier. CAT is 2 years old.

The original Smog Test Only shop which would do a retest for $11 had been closed for 2 or more weeks--so I went and paid $38 to another Smog Test Only shop.

I passed the visual inspection even though the Gold Shield shop had written that I tampered with 8 things and they said my "Timing" was off because my idle was off. No Timing degree numbers were listed in the Smog paperwork. Paid $20

DMV refused to give me temporary operating permit [TOP] without the original CAP letter.

Called CAP--they told me to pickup the letter at the shop. CAP put me back into their program because the 3rd smog test had passed my car on visual inspection.

Returned to DMV with CAP letter and got a 60 day TOP [temporary operating permit] DMV wanted $50 for it if not in the CAP program

I called BAR and they sent out an inspector directly to me to photography my engine. BAR has reviewed the photos and

said I should take it to a BAR referee. The inspector said to tell the next Gold Shield shop to call him personally.

I went to a new Gold Shield shop on Nov. 13...it was a friday. The Master smog tech there said I tampered with the Oxygen Sensor and didn't like my silicone vacuum hoses. He said that his shop won't work on my car and told me to go to the BAR referee. He refused to call the BAR Inspector. He said he wanted to work fast and not spend the day inspecting my car in order to repair it.

My 3rd failed smog test I had High Nox and the CO was a little high only at 15mph.
The car runs better than new. But the emissions are over the limit.

The Gold Shield shop told me on Friday the 13th, that California now requires an OBD2 Cat on all cars even though I have an OBD1 and it will cost $300.

Is this true?

The next step is I am seeing a BAR referee for a complimentary visual inspection.

I will update this next week.

ah there is no difference between a OBDI cat and a OBDII cat except maybe having an o2 sensor on it. Oh and fact is your car is required to have the cat for that year not a OBDII cat.

Your headache was caused by you. In your effort to try to get out of the smog with the $500 cap law you fucked yourself.

The shops were completely aware of this and probably screwed with you because they knew you were trying to circumvent the system.

Their is a lot of fishy shit going on in your explanation which tells me you were dealing with shops that were in trouble to begin with. A test only smog shop does not stay closed for 2 weeks in less its out of business or did something illegal and got shut down.

Plus what did your car fail on visual you have not told us that. On top of that how the hell does your car pass tailpipe once and then the next time you take it back it fails.

Ah sorry but that shit does not happen. Unless someone passed you illegally.

I think you are not telling us the truth and your post is in the wrong section to begin with this is a regional thing not national.

Oh and Ceepo don't believe the shit this guy is spouting its not that hard to pass smog here. I have smogged many test only gross polluters. Yes it can be done and it does not require the $500 cap game.

[miklos]

I didn't try to get out of anything with the CAP. CAP was to pay up to $500.
It never passed emissions on any of the 3 tests. I always had high NOx on all 3 tests. It passed Visual before I went to Gold Shield and after on the 3rd attempt at another Smog Test only shop. It failed Visual at Gold Shield because he said the CARB number on my INJEN intake was invalid. I have the ARB website link with the Executive Order. The EO number is valid. The second Gold Shield shop also asked me for a CARB sticker for the air cleaner on the Injen Intake.

[blasting_speed]

I would've just taken it to some mexican dude. Gave him $200 bucks. He'd pass my car easy as that.



Fuck the US government. They're a bunch of fat pimps that don't do shit but tax and count money. Fuck'em.

[miklos]

Today went to BAR referee station...

90 minute check and test....I have passed the Visual but failed emissions for the 4th time.

Now I can go to Gold Shield--and maybe get a new cat.

[DreamN]

what are your test numbers?

[drift freaq]

Today went to BAR referee station...

90 minute check and test....I have passed the Visual but failed emissions for the 4th time.

Now I can go to Gold Shield--and maybe get a new cat.

Honestly is sounds like all your doing is refusing to spend your own money to fix the problem and instead running shit through the system so you can make the state pay for it. I.E. Others and I who are taxpayers.

Which I should add is fucked up. Seriously dude, I have had many cars in your situation and made them pass on the second attempt.

I really thing you are scamming the system and I have no respect for that. If you are not bright enough to fix it right pay someone.

Oh and by your previous response it shows me you are less than honorable because you are trying to exploit the cap system. Just by stating its there and you plan on taking advantage of it.

Come on guy getting a 240sx to pass smog in no way costs $500. Unless you are complete idiot which at that point you should not even be doing this.

[DALAZ_68]

omfg...how do you complicate this
fix the problems ur self legitimately or with pro help


y even bother with cap letter

[DreamN]

Dave needs to start a thread with all his SMOG passing secrets listed :D

[miklos]

Did you miss the part where I spent $335 of my money on repairs already and another $100 on smog tests?

[ryguy]

Did you replace the EGRC BPT valve? That seems to be the only NOx related thing you didn't mess with or replace.

[rhdgloria-y32]

I'd buy a new car, money spent+wasted time= Game over try agian!

[DreamN]

Did you miss the part where I spent $335 of my money on repairs already and another $100 on smog tests?

You never mentioned how much you spent on repairs, just the $96 on SMOG tests.

[miklos]

You never mentioned how much you spent on repairs, just the $96 on SMOG tests.
OK......this was an early version......I rewrote it for BAR describing my mechanic had the car 10 days and went through the EGR and EGR solenoid and 2 fuel injectors and a MAF. Plugs and Plug Wires..............I've spent plenty of money on this and now could need a CAT. Mine is 2 years old and they think it's bad.

[Walperstyle]

I've owned 2 KA-E engines out of the 10 or so that i've had over the years.

besides the ticking head, lack of power, and horrible prototype emission system on them, Overall I found that the best thing I ever did was search for free, or cheap KA24DE engines. I never had one that passed emissions, and thus I moved to a place where there is no emissions at all.

[miklos]

Did you replace the EGRC BPT valve? That seems to be the only NOx related thing you didn't mess with or replace.
I have thought about the BPT but so far no one has said anything about it. I've heard rumors that the valves need adjusting, that the EGR needs more work...etc.
And I also changed the PCV and IACV and spark plugs recently.

I feel like just getting a Corvette V-8 from the 70s and throw out the ECU.

[dynamicck]

you should just get a smog exempt car. less headache

[Xbroke_kidX]

I would've just taken it to some mexican dude. Gave him $200 bucks. He'd pass my car easy as that.



Fuck the US government. They're a bunch of fat pimps that don't do shit but tax and count money. Fuck'em.

lol he speaks the truth

[keiglo]

i just got my 89 240 smogged a month or two ago. went to test, and failed NOx. it was almost double the limit. went and bought new cat, came back 30 minutes later and passed no problem. hope when you get the cat, you pass.

[tr4c3]

I'm glad I don't plan to ever move out to CA. Fuck that. Although Jersey blows as well, just not as much bullshit as that.

[I LUV MY S13]

I would've just taken it to some mexican dude. Gave him $200 bucks. He'd pass my car easy as that.



Fuck the US government. They're a bunch of fat pimps that don't do shit but tax and count money. Fuck'em.


theres a guy in alhambra that does it for 150:hsdance:...i pass legally though

[ManoNegra]

*sigh* this thread is full of fail

[DreamN]

Miklos, what are your test numbers and what type of CAT are you currently running? Is it a universal type? If so, those don't last long at all. Typically 1-2 years is pretty much it. A lot of places consider them a "one smog" deal type of thing (seeing as cars get SMOG tested bi-annually).

[ryguy]

I have thought about the BPT but so far no one has said anything about it.

My BPT was faulty, that's why I failed NOx.

[miklos]

Miklos, what are your test numbers and what type of CAT are you currently running? Is it a universal type? If so, those don't last long at all. Typically 1-2 years is pretty much it. A lot of places consider them a "one smog" deal type of thing (seeing as cars get SMOG tested bi-annually).
15mph--NOx 1755
25mph-NOx 1065
It was just a cat from some cheap muffler shop.
I added that G2P in the tank.........useless. Before that I had seafoam in the gas tank and it's still in the crankcase.

[klrbee7]

Damn that is a lot of work. with all the time spent going to smog stations and DMV. Good luck ! !

If you have all the smog device and CAT. Grab Seafoam ( pepboys have it in spray or gas mix ) drive your car hard for a good 30 mins then go straight to smog shop. this actually worked on my RX7

Otherwise pay someone to pass it or like what they always say if you can't pass smog JUNK IT ! ! :D

[lewisfk]

Hell i'm moving to Cali in the next 90 days! I was wondering if my cars are registered in Texas do i have to smog them? All the major cities in Texas are starting to smog test! There tired of asshole rednecks riding around with no cats or no mufflers or straight pipes all away around! Hell i know big rigs running around with no emmsion systems on them!

[drift freaq]

Hell i'm moving to Cali in the next 90 days! I was wondering if my cars are registered in Texas do i have to smog them? All the major cities in Texas are starting to smog test! There tired of asshole rednecks riding around with no cats or no mufflers or straight pipes all away around! Hell i know big rigs running around with no emmsion systems on them!

Seriously man its not as hard as this idiot made it for himself. Yes I called him an idiot because he could have done some simple things and the car would have passed on the second try. If he spent over $300 and the mechanic did not make it pass then the mechanic is a an idiot.

Like Mano negro said this thread is full of fail with most of it perpetrated by the OP.

Smogging our cars is not hard at all. The only thing that is or can be a pain is the new Evap tests. Basically if you fail you have trace down were the return fuel lines and or Evap lines are leaking. I.E. pain in the ass.

[miklos]

Damn that is a lot of work. with all the time spent going to smog stations and DMV. Good luck ! !

If you have all the smog device and CAT. Grab Seafoam ( pepboys have it in spray or gas mix ) drive your car hard for a good 30 mins then go straight to smog shop. this actually worked on my RX7

Otherwise pay someone to pass it or like what they always say if you can't pass smog JUNK IT ! ! :D
I did Seafoam twice a week before the 1st smog test. A week later 2 injectors started leaking and the EGR light came on. Plus the O2 and spark plugs were coated with the stuff.

[miklos]

I then went to a Muffler shop and spent $90 on a Resonator and exhaust repairs to increase the exhaust backpressure.

NOTE: THE CAR RAN GREAT UNTIL I TOOK IT BACK TO IA FOR THE 2ND VISIT!

2nd Visit-Intl Auto 4 days-I dropped off the car again on 12-8 and L. said he was sending my fuel injectors out for testing and calibrating. 2 Injectors were running rich. #2 & #3. My mechanic had replaced #1 & #4 and none had color dot marks which possibly meant all injectors are wrong. [Note: the KA24E that came with my car were all truck engines. And truck engines didn’t have color marked injectors.] 4 New injectors would be $600. A new cat with CALIF numbers would be $225. Also L. said I had no increased backpressure.

Dec. 8-Left the car with Gold Shield Shop-they removed 4 fuel injectors and sent them out for calibration. Adjusted TPS. Replaced 4 fuel injector harness wire pigtails. L. said I need backpressure. Bill was $535.00. Over the $450 waiver limit. The Tech wanted me to go and install some type of exhaust restriction or muffler at my expense and then return for another Smog dyno test which I may or may not pass. And by this time the CEL was on.

Friday Dec. 11-Gold Shield shop called and said pickup the car and take it to a muffler shop to add more exhaust restriction. I went to the shop to get my car and the idle was bouncing from 800rpm to 200rpm. It was undriveable. I had the tech raise the idle on the IACV and then I drove out of there.

The first week they had it for 2 days after the diagnosis said they didn’t want to do the repairs.
This latest smog repair attempt was during the second week that they had my car-about 4 days because CAP said to return it to the shop.

Dec. 11-I made an appointment with the BAR referee for a 2 year waiver for Dec. 15th

Saturday-Dec. 12 I returned to IA to pickup my papers for BAR and L. said he must run more tests before giving me the papers. And he said I must go to a muffler shop again and add more backpressure to the exhaust system. My bill with his Gold Shield shop was at $535. And I had paid him $60 out of my pocket to fix the EGR a week prior. So far the total I spent at Gold Shield is $595.

Dec. 12-Oil change $24.15 after new injectors

Dec. 13-Sunday - I was driving and 1 or 2 cylinders stopped firing. The idle was dropping to 200rpm and surging. Sometimes the car would just die while attempting to drive. The CEL “check engine light” has been on since I left Gold Shield shop on Friday Dec. 11th

Dec. 13-Sunday Now the car is undriveable.

Dec. 14-Monday . I must now postpone the appointment and waiver application. I may need to tow it back to the Gold Shield shop on Monday if it doesn’t drive on it’s own.

[sidedrifts13]

damm i am speechless

[shiftdrift]

sell your 240.

[K_style]

sell your 240.


and get other car...

seems too much $$ has been spent.. on not so worth engine..

[miklos]

I fixed it....they had knocked the connector loose on the MAF. Getting smog waiver this week

[boostdd]

Wow

and why the smog shop that does illegal smog gotta be Mexican huh huh ?

Last time I did illegal smog it was a middle eastern guy

[miklos]

I got the 2 year waiver....BAR said next time it must pass or they won't register the car.

[boobs13]

theres a shop in san bernardino u give him a bill n your done

[AcostaMotoring]

where in san bernardino? haha. just curious.

[miklos]

Someone said if I got a 195 degree thermostat and a smaller muffler--my car would pass next time.

[Gizmo_S13]

This is retarded if I would've failed once they tell you what you don't pass and take it upon yourself to fix the problems and if you're too lazy to do it yourself get it done crooked or something not just milk the system it's bad enough we're in a economic downfall.

[ghettohatch]

get a swap so all the headache will at least pay off